Monday, December 1, 2025

December 1st: The Portal Opens – Behold the Spirit of Wintermas

 December 1st: The Portal Opens – Behold the Spirit of Wintermas


Monday, December 1, 2025

5 AM. Introducing for GMs of MM 2.7: Using the MoZ and HH rules in December is the new Spirit of Wintermas here!

The coffee is poured. The map is unrolled. The calendar has turned.

Good morning, and welcome to December. Welcome to the Winter Wonderlands of Thrivaldi.

Yesterday, I told you that we were embarking on a journey where the Cold is the enemy and the Hearth Fire is the only defense. But a setting as vast and magical as Thrivaldi needs a ruler—a force that embodies the very essence of the season.


Today, for the Game Masters of Monsters! Monsters! 2.7, I am unveiling the ultimate GMPC (Game Master Persona Character) An Icon. This entity is the spiritual anchor of our new campaign.

We aren't just fighting monsters this month; we are witnessing miracles. I wanted to create an entity that represents the "Thrice-Mighty" power sources: The Holy Spirit, The Christmas Spirit, and the collective energy of World Holidays.

Meet the Spirit of Wintermas.

Angela Head has created a special Game Master Screen image for you to download and use at your table. It contains every rule, table, and stat you need to run this entity and the Wintermas setting.



As you can see from the image above, the Spirit of Wintermas is a divine force of light and warmth, a powerful counter to the frozen darkness of Thrivaldi.

  • Role & Power: This is a Divine Force and Ultimate Aid. The Spirit is a non-engageable entity, immune to physical damage, with a massive Monster Rating of 5,500. Their purpose is not to fight, but to empower.

  • Core Abilities: The Spirit can grant massive boosts, such as the Wintermas Aid (+10 WIZ SR or restore 500 WIZ points) and is an ever-present source of truth and judgment.

  • The Chaos of Winter: The image also details the Wild Magic Winter Wonderland Table, a 3d6 chart of chaotic effects ranging from helpful (Icy Arsenal, Ice Shield) to hilarious (Insulting Snowman) to catastrophic (Potted Poinsettia).

  • Controlling the Elements: The Weather Control Table allows the GM to set the scene, from Clear Skies to a devastating Great Blizzard.

  • The Silent Killer: Most importantly, the Hypothermia & Frostbite Rules are clearly laid out. The cold is a constant threat, and the only cure is the Hearth Fire Mechanic—gathering together to share a story and restore the party's fortitude.

This is the power we are dealing with. As we move through December, keep this stat block handy. The Spirit of Wintermas is the ultimate "Hearth Fire." When the cold gets too deep and the monsters get too strong, this is the force that keeps the light burning.

Grab your dice. The portal is open. Wintermas has begun for the month of December in 2025!


Here is the Add-On Blog Post to follow up your previous one. It includes the renamed table and specific GM notes on how to implement this "Gift Giving" mechanic at the start of the adventure.




Update: The Spirit is Generous – The Gifts of Wintermas


🎁 THE GIFTS OF WINTERMAS: Player Kindred Artifact Table (3d6)

3d6 RollArtifact NameMM 2.7 Rules and DescriptionTargeted Kindred/Focus
3The Twirling Golem KeyMissile weapon (L2 SR vs. DEX to hit) deals 3 Adding Damage. Can spend 3 ST on hit for a Level 5 SR vs. IQ or the target is Stunned.Dwelves
4Staff of the Tundra HerbalistMissile weapon (L2 SR vs. DEX to hit). Successful hit forces Level 5 SR vs. IQ or the target's IQ is temporarily reduced by -2.Healer/Scholar
5The Bone-Spike BracersMelee enhancement. Grants a permanent +3 to Combat Adds. Can spend 4 ST for an extra 2 Adding Damage (2D6) on hit.Sabortooth Yeti Hybrid
6The Colossus JavelinMissile weapon that deals 6D6 damage. Can spend 5 ST on hit to instantly Immobilize the target (Open-Ended ST SR vs. L7 to break free).Ice Giant
7The Great Maul of Wintermas' FuryMelee weapon (5D6 + 4 Adding Damage). If used with Horn Gore, the target must make a Level 6 SR vs. ST or be Knocked Prone.Tygerian Horn Warrior Clan
8The Ice-Mason's Blasting HammerMissile weapon (L2 SR vs. DEX to hit) deals 3 Adding Damage. Catastrophic miss can cause an Ice Avalanche (L4 SR vs. DEX or take 3D6 blunt damage).Dwelves/Mason
9The Bow of Havashar's LightMissile weapon that deals 3 Adding Damage (Energy). Always passes the L1 SR (hits stationary target). Havashar Power (5 Adding Damage) ignores AC.Tygerian Moon Elves
10Frost-Harpoon of Wintermas' HunterMissile weapon (L2 SR vs. DEX to hit) deals 4 Adding Damage. Can spend 2 ST on hit for a Level 5 SR vs. ST or the target is Slowed.Tygerian Horn Ice Fisherman
11The Frost Serpent's Venom SpitterMissile weapon deals 5 Adding Damage (Cold/Acid). Rolling a 6 forces a Level 5 SR vs. CON or the target's AC drops by -1.Wyrmling Serpent Hybrid
12The Harpoon of the Frost-HunterMissile weapon deals 4 Adding Damage. On hit, forces a Level 4 SR vs. ST or the monster's movement speed is halved.General Hunter
13The Silver Flask of SpiritsMissile weapon (L2 SR vs. DEX to hit). Deals 4 Adding Damage (Fire). Splash deals 1D6 to adjacent creatures (L3 SR vs. DEX to halve).Merchant/Innkeeper
14Evergreen QuarterstaffA simple +1 quarterstaff that is immune to fire damage and always has a pleasant pine scent.General Weapon
15Boots of the WinterlandsAllows the wearer to traverse icy surfaces effortlessly and grants immunity to the effects of extreme cold.General Mobility
16Glacial DaggerA slender dagger that deals normal damage plus 1 Adding Damage of Cold on a hit.General Weapon
17Pipes of Good CheerWhen played (Action), all creatures within 15 feet must make a Level 6 SR vs. IQ or lose their next turn dancing/singing.General Utility
18Shroud of Ethereal ColdGrants Resistance to all Cold/Energy Damage. Once per fight, can become Ethereal for 1 round (L4 SR vs. Luck to activate).General Defense


Monday, December 1, 2025

ADDENDUM: I realized I almost sent you into the frozen wastes of Thrivaldi with nothing but your coats and your wits. But Wintermas is a time of giving, and the Spirit of Wintermas is nothing if not generous.

For GMs running this campaign, we are introducing a special mechanic to kick off the adventure: The Gift Giving.

Before the party steps out into the cold, or perhaps when they wake up on the morning of their journey, each player receives a blessing. This isn't loot they found in a dungeon; this is a divine gift tailored to the chaos of the season.

GM NOTES: HOW TO USE THIS TABLE

  1. The One-Roll Rule: Have each player roll 3d6 once at the start of the Wintermas module. The result is the specific artifact gifted to them by the Spirit.

  2. Kindred Affinity: The table lists a "Targeted Kindred." If a player rolls an item meant for a specific Kindred (like a Dwelf or a Sabortooth Hybrid) and they are that Kindred, the item operates at full power. If they are not, the item still functions, but perhaps with a quirky cosmetic effect or a slightly higher SR to activate.

  3. The Spirit's Logic: These items are magical and durable. They are designed to help the players survive the specific threats of Thrivaldi (Cold, Ice Giants, and gloom).

Here is the official MM 2.7 loot table for the season.

Use these gifts wisely. Thrivaldi is dangerous, but with the Spirit on your side (and a good hammer in your hand), you might just survive the long night.

Happy rolling, and Merry Wintermas!

Yours Captain Hedges

3 AM Whispers: Opening the Portal to Thirvaldi's Winter Wonderlands

 

3 AM Whispers: Opening the Portal to Thirvaldi's Winter Wonderlands

Monday, December 1st, 2025







Good morning, everyone. It's Monday, December 1st, 2025, and it’s 3 AM here at the cypress swamp cabin overlooking the Red River in Shreveport. The bayou is quiet, but within these log walls, an event of immense significance is about to unfold.



Today is the day. After days of preparation, of creative focus and spiritual reflection, we are officially opening the portal to Thirvaldi's Winter Wonderlands! The window that has been hinting at that icy realm will no longer just be a view; it will be a fully active gateway. This isn't just about launching a new campaign setting; it's about actively stepping into the next phase of a world brought to life through imagination, hard work, and divine inspiration.

The concept of a portal, a gateway to another realm, carries profound weight. It speaks of crossing thresholds, of venturing into the unknown, of the immense power required to bridge realities. It makes me reflect on how, in our own lives, we sometimes need to "open portals" – to new opportunities, new understanding, or new spiritual growth.



The Bible often speaks of divine access, of God opening doors that no one can shut, and of His presence being a gateway to a new way of living. I'm reminded of Revelation 3:7-8, where Christ speaks of His authority over opening and shutting:

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."


At 3 AM, as I prepare to activate the magical gateway to Thirvaldi, this scripture reminds me of a greater truth. While I can create fictional portals, there is only One who holds the ultimate key—Christ Himself. He is the one who places "open doors" before us in our real lives, doors of opportunity, of service, of healing. He knows our strength (or lack thereof), yet He empowers us to step through.

So, today, as we launch into Thirvaldi's Winter Wonderlands, let it be a reminder: just as we consciously open this fictional portal, let us also pray for and seek the "open doors" that God places before us in the real world. May we step through them with faith, knowing that His power is far greater than any magical gateway we could ever conceive.



I wanted to make sure I got this out to you all now, before the final preparations for opening the portal. Please know you're in my thoughts and prayers. Have a blessed Monday. As I make some More Coffee!

Yours for now Captain Hedges